4X4 PSA: Use It Or Lose It 5th Gen Style

[96r50]

Well yes that is true.....it was a bad choice of words. However to me a transfer case is acting as a center diff lock as it locks the front to the rear once engaged.

A centre differential is a transfer case, but a transfer case is not a centre differential.

A centre differential will allow the output shafts (in this case the front and rear propeller shafts) to spin at different speeds but with a transfer case both propeller shafts are forced to spin at the same speed all the time. This is why you get binding and tire scrub on high traction surfaces with a transfer case in 4WD but not with an unlocked centre differential on a full-time 4WD or AWD setup. Once you lock the centre differential it acts the same way as a transfer case.

 

[RaginTxn84]

Yeah - just happened to read that yesterday in the manual (usually read it through the first couple of days after buying a new car). Lucky it was raining yesterday, so I locked it in and ran around with it for the ~10 miles it recommends - amazing the difference it makes, especially in the rain.

Good post and reminder

 

[st8rocks]

Newb question.... I won't cause any damage driving around town a bit in 4Hi correct?

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Newb question.... I won't cause any damage driving around town a bit in 4Hi correct?

No, see post 12 above with the quote from your manual.

 

[MikeDUBS]

Newb question.... I won't cause any damage driving around town a bit in 4Hi correct?

Here is some good reading about your question.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/133871-using-part-time-4wd-dry-pavement-te-sr5.html

 

[1engineer]

Here is some good reading about your question.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/133871-using-part-time-4wd-dry-pavement-te-sr5.html

Good link to bring up in this thread!

 

[badhabits]

On my drive home from work I have a couple of straight stretches of about a mile each, on which I engage the 4wd every day on the drive home. There is no binding or other problems with doing this on dry pavement, I just disengage 4wd when I need to make turns. I think that this intermittent use should count toward the monthly total. Any comments will be welcome.

 

[1engineer]

On my drive home from work I have a couple of straight stretches of about a mile each, on which I engage the 4wd every day on the drive home. There is no binding or other problems with doing this on dry pavement, I just disengage 4wd when I need to make turns. I think that this intermittent use should count toward the monthly total. Any comments will be welcome.

Of course they do. Look, there is no magic behind the 10 mile requirement. I'm quite sure that is an arbitrary number based on a specific operating profile. The most important thing is that the full drivetrain gets exercised every now and then to prevent any "lack of use" problems such as stiction in actuators down the road when you need it. Personally I might have it in 4WD for a mile down a dirt trail one week, a few hundred yards up a hill a few weeks later and then nothing for a month. Then I might put it in 4X4 while driving on pavement for a few miles or if the conditions are right even 20 miles in 4X4 or dry roads. It's not like if you only go 9.9 miles or 10.01 miles in 4WD every month can screw it up. Just remember to go SOME distance every so often in 4WD. Actually a shorter distance every week is probably better than a long distance once a month.

 

[KidVermicious]

getting to many exceptions in here.


just easier if you just run it in 4hi/low and locked each month.


then every model/package/option will be covered regardless.

I'm sorry, this makes too much sense. I think there's a rule against making too much sense in the 5th gen forum.

 

[MikeDUBS]

Good link to bring up in this thread!

I do what I can

 

[badhabits]

Actually a shorter distance every week is probably better than a long distance once a month.

The ease that you can engage and disengage the 4wd makes this a easy thing to do, if you see a mile or so straight stretch ahead put it in 4wd go for it.( just remember to take it out when you need to) This is unlike the olden days of manual locking hubs and having to be completely stopped to engage 4wd. :driving:

 

[KidVermicious]

This is unlike the olden days of manual locking hubs and having to be completely stopped to engage 4wd. :driving:

Olden days? Who are you calling old?

Those of us with manual hubs and manual tcases don't need to shift into 4wd every month just to make sure our junk still works. :thumb:

 

[Sac State]

Just did my 10 miles this AM. :high5:

 

[1engineer]

Olden days? Who are you calling old?

Those of us with manual hubs and manual tcases don't need to shift into 4wd every month just to make sure our junk still works. :thumb:

No but we don't need vice grips either...

 

[KidVermicious]

No but we don't need vice grips either...

Not for your 4wd, anyway.








I'm sorry, I got nuthin'.

 

[Lenny33]

I think there are too many "city-fied" folk on this forum! Don't any of you live near gravel or dirt roads? I engage my 4 wheel drive on the 1 1/2 miles of gravel road to my house probably twice a month at minimum.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

The ease that you can engage and disengage the 4wd makes this a easy thing to do, if you see a mile or so straight stretch ahead put it in 4wd go for it.( just remember to take it out when you need to) This is unlike the olden days of manual locking hubs and having to be completely stopped to engage 4wd. :driving:

I miss my manual locking hubs and manual transfer case..I wish my 5th gen had them. I already have ADD, I don't need my 4Runner to have it as well!

 

[KidVermicious]

I miss my manual locking hubs and manual transfer case..I wish my 5th gen had them. I already have ADD, I don't need my 4Runner to have it as well!

Word.

 

[st8rocks]

Is an audible click normal when engaging and disengaging the rear locker? It sounded normal and I had all the windows down. I locked it in a grass parking lot, I didn't realize how much the rear tires tear up the grass when I turn... oops

 

[1engineer]

Is an audible click normal when engaging and disengaging the rear locker? It sounded normal and I had all the windows down. I locked it in a grass parking lot, I didn't realize how much the rear tires tear up the grass when I turn... oops

Noise is normal. Tearing up grass is normal. Now you can say "Had to lock it in while 4 wheeling today fellas!"